Display turntable



Dec'. 4, 1934. E, WOERNER 1,982,776

. DISPLAY TURNTABLE Fired March 2o, `1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 f Patented Dec. 4, 1934 CEA DISPLAY TURNTABLE Erwin Woerner, North Caldwell, N. J.

Application March 20,

8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements'in rotary display apparatus ofthe turntable type for use in exhibiting articles or material or advertising matter.

The principal object of my invention, lbroadly stated, is to provide apparatus for rotating goods, or the like, for advertising display, which is readily portable, durable, inexpensive to manufacture and operate, and which, as compared with apparatus as now constructed, comprises a smaller number of parts more easily assembled or disassembled as desired.

More specifically my invention is directed toward providing a simplified efiicent turntable apparatus for the purpose above set forth, and a novel mounting and relation of motor drive parts thereof together with improved lubricating means for said parts whereby a low powdered motor may be used to rotate the load on the table and the cost of operation and repair reduced to a minimum.

Another important object of my inventionis to combine in a single unit a number of the `parts of the machine for incorporation, as a unit, in the -25`i machine to thereby reduce the number of assemblying operations and thel cost of manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects will presently appear and the nature of my improvements will be more clearly understood when the following 301 description and claims are read inconjunction with the drawings accompanying and forming partof this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in transverse section, taken on'the line 1--1 of Figure 2 andillustrating a preferred embodiment of my novel display apparatus. e Y

Figure 2 is a view in top planwithparts broken away and other partsshownin section. n

`Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in s 'ection and taken on the line 3`3 of Figure`2, and

Figure 4 isa view inbottom plan.

Describing now specifically the 'illustrated embodiment of my invention the numeral 1 desigf nates the base proper of the apparatus which has the form of a circular plate 2 provided with a downturned marginal fiange 3 from which depend a series of short legs 4. Upstanding from said plate 2 axially thereof is a short bearing sleeve 5 having a central bore 6 terminating in a conical seat 7. The function of said sleeve 5 will presently appear. Adjacent the edge of the plate 2 is a series, preferably three, of equidistantly spaced posts 8 having threaded apertures 8' in their. upper ends and relatively higher than the 1934, Serial No. 716,444

(Cl. i4- 425) sleeve 5.` At one side of the sleeve 5 is an elongated stepped bearing boss or block 10 arising from the plate 2 to substantially the height of said sleeve 5 and extending chordally of said plate. The boss 10 has a vertically disposed through bore 11 adjacent one end thereof a similar bore 12 located midway of its ends, and a threaded through bore at its other end as at 13. An air vent duct 14, enlarged at its lower end as at 15, extends vertically through the boss 10 intermediate the bores 1l and 12.` Associatedwith the bores 11 and' 12 are oil grooves 16 parallel therewith and opening thereinto, said grooves extending from the bottom of the plate2V and terminating at their upper `ends in helical grooves 17. At the side of the sleeve 5 opposite the boss 10, two openings 1'7 are provided in the plate 2. The purpose of the posts 8, boss 10, and features described in connection therewith, will presentl`y appear. y 75 The plate 2, sleeve 5, posts 8 and boss 10 are preferably formed of light inexpensive metal, for instance castiron, and they are shown as cast or otherwiseformed as a single piece manufacturing unit having "the before described bores,4 duct and'oil grooves therein.

Supported ontop of the posts 8 is a circular sheet metal cover or casing 18. having a flat top andan open bottom and of the requisite size to fltsnuglyatits lower Yedge against the flangel 3 of` thebase plate 2. Preferably the casing 18 is also of steel, or other light inexpensive metal.y Screws r19 threaded into the apertures 8. retain the casing inposition. A bearing collar 20 `is suitablyfsecured in the top of the casing 18 in axial alignment with the sleeve 5. Y,

Surmounting the casing 18 is" a flat circular turntablejZul, also preferably formedl of; steel,` and l1avingj a' "downy turned marginal reinforcing flange 22;a`r1d a depending axial sleeve2f3;1se^ cured thereto. ',The turntable 21A is rotatablyV mounted* in the 'sleeve 5 and collar-20\ by :means of ahvertical table rotating shaft 24 having a reduced lower` end'25 journaled in the bore 6 of said sleeve, and a reduced upper end 26 journaled vin said collar 2.0,` the sleeve 23 of said table being removablyfitted over saidfend. `A single ball bear` ing 28 interposed between vthe lower endof said shaft 24 and the 'seat 7 of the sleeve 5 sustainsthe entire weight of the table and load thereon Within the casing 18 is a motorrdrive forsaid shaft-24 and table 21 as follows.

` Secured! to the`p1ate2,asby brackets 29, and

insulated from said plate by an insulating pad 303 is a motor.31.V` Any suitable Vform of motor 110 may be utilized but preferably an electro-magnetic motor is used of the type embodying a horizontal disc-like rotor 32 interposed between the poles 33 of a stator core, as at 34, and having a stator winding as at 35, adapted to be connected by leads 36 passing over one aperture 17 and through the other for connection to the house current. The aperture 17 over which the leads 36 pass, it will be noted, provides for ventilation of the casing 18. y

The rotor 32 is fixed as by opposed' nuts 37 to the upper end of a drive shaft 38 journaledv in the before mentioned bore 11 and having its lower end projecting below the boss 10, or plate 2. Journaled in the before-mentioned bore 12 is a similarly arranged jack shaft 39 and interposed between the drive shaft 38 and the table rotating or driven shaft 24 is a train of reduction gearing including a small gear 40 fast on the lower end of said shaft 38 .and meshing with a larger gear 41 fast on the lower end of the jack shaft 39, and small gear 42 fast on the upper end of said jack shaft 39 and meshing with a large gear 43 fast on the lower end of the table rotating shaft 24.

Beneath the boss 10 and gears 40 and 41 is a combined oil container and bearing member in the form of a flat pan 44 secured to the plate by screwsv 45 and communicating at one end with the threaded bore 13 through which oil may be introduced into said pan. A screw plug 46 may be provided for closing the bore 13 after filling saidk pan. The lower ends of the driveshaft 38 and jack shaft 39 are somewhat enlarged and are rounded to provide anti-friction members 47 bearing on the bottom of said pan whereby the latter acts as an end thrust bearing member supporting downward thrust of said shafts.

In the operation of my novel display apparatus the motor 3'1 having first been energized, as by means of the usual switch not shown, the drive shaft 38 is rotated to drive the jack'shaft 39 and table rotating shaft 24 through the described gearing, as will be clear, the gears 40 and 41 and anti-friction members 47 .running in oil. Due

to capillary action the oil is drawn Vfrom the pan 44 upwardly through the grooves 16 and into the helical grooves 17 thereby lubricating the shafts 38 and 39 throughout their entire length. In this connection` it is to be noted that the grooves 17 are reversely coiled relative to the direction of rotation of the shafts 38 and 39 whereby the upward flow of oil is retarded and said oil pocketed so that a minimum amount escapes from the upper ends of said grooves and bores. Obviously some. oil yescapes however which is taken up by the gear 42 through wiping action thereof against the topy of the boss 10 it being understood that said gear is close enough to said boss for this purpose. Such escaping oil lubricates the gears 42 and 43 and any excess oil drains back into the'pan` 44 through the vent duct 14.

The described structure provides a light, strong and readily portable display apparatus operative under a maximum load by a low powered motor. This is due on the one hand to the fact that substantially the entire load of goods on the table is sustained by the single ball bearing 28 thus reducing friction incident to rotation of said table to a minimum, and on the other hand to the fact that the gears 40 and 41 run in oil andato the anti-friction mounting of said shafts o n said pan 44.; The single vpiece base having the sleeve 5, posts 8, and boss 10, provides a unit which saves assembling and disassembling operations and which may be more economically manufactured as such a unit than in separate parts.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it should be understood that many modifications and changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising, akcircular base plate having projecting upwardly therefrom an axial bearing sleeve, an elongated bearing block, and a series of posts adjacent its marginal edge, acircular casing supported by said posts and having an axial bearing collar in the top thereof, a driven shaft journaled at its opposite ends in said sleeve and collar, respectively, and extending at one end above said casing, a turn table mounted on the projecting end of the shaft, and a motor drive for said shaft ineluding, drive and jack shafts, respectively, journaled in said block and projecting above said block and below said plate, intermeshing gears on the lower ends of said drive and jackshafts, and a gear drive from the upper end of said jackl shaft to said driven shaft.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising, a circular base plate having projecting upwardly therefrom an axial bearing sleeve, and an elongate bearing block, a circular casing surmounting said plate and secured thereto said casing having an axial collar in the topl thereof, a driven shaft journaled at its lower and upper ends in said sleeve and collar, respectively, the upper end of said shaft extending above said casing, a turn table mountedV on the projecting end of said shaft, an anti-friction ball interposed betweenthe lower end.V of said shaft and the bottom of said sleeve and supporting said shaft and table, and a motor drive for said shaft including, drive and jack shafts, respectively journaled in said block and projecting above said block and below said plate, an oil pansecured to said plate below saiddrive and jack shafts, intermeshing gears onV the lowerends of said drive and jack shafts-and within said pan, and a gear drive from the upper end of said jack shaft to said driven shaft.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising, a circular base plate having an axial bearing sleeve projecting upwardly therefrom, `and anA elongate bearing block, an oil pansecured to the underside of said plate beneath said block, a casingsurrnountingsaid plate and secured thereto, -a driven shaft yjournaledat its lower end in said sleeve and having its upper end projectingl through the top of the casing, a turntablemount-v ed on the projecting, end of said shaft, an anti-y friction ball interposed betweenthe lower vendjof said shaft and the bottomof said sleeve andsupfporting said shaft andtable, and a motordrive for said shaft including, vertically disposed drive and jack shafts,respectively,` journaled insaid block and having enlarged lower rounded ends projecting below said plate and bearing upon the bottom of said pan to provide an antiifriction end thrust bearing for said drive and jack shafts; intermeshing gears onsaid driveand jack shafts within said pan, and a gear drive from the upper end of said jack shaft to said driven shaft.

41. Apparatus of the class kdescribed comprising a base plate including an integral bearing bloclf providedwithfa pair ofV vertical .bresextnding therethrough-andindividual' longitudinal oil feed-i ing grooves for said bores coextensive therewith and terminating at their upper ends in helical grooves, an oil pan secured to said plate beneath said block and forming a closed chamber therewith communicating with said bores, a casing surmounting said plate and secured thereto, a vertically disposed driven shaft having a bearing at its opposite ends in said plate and casing, respectively, the upper end projecting above said casing, a turntable mounted on the upper end of said shaft and a motor drive for said shaft including, drive and jack shafts journaled in said bores, respectively, said drive and jack shafts projecting at their upper ends above said block and having lower rounded ends bearing upon the bottom of said pan to provide an anti-friction end thrust bearing for said drive and jack shafts, intermeshing gears on the lower ends of said drive and jack shafts within said pan, and a gear drive between the upper end of said jack shaft and said driven shaft.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising, a base plate including an integral bearing block provided with a pair of vertical bores extending therethrough and individual longitudinal oil grooves for said bores coextensive therewith and terminating at their upper ends in helical grooves, an oil pan secured to said plate below said bores, a turntable device including a driven shaft, and a motor drive for said shaft including, drive and jack shafts, respectively, journaled in said bores said drive and jack shafts projecting above said block and into said pan, intermeshing gears on said drive and jack shafts within said pan, and operating connections between the upper end of the jack shaft and said driven shaft said helical coils being reverse-ly arranged relative to the direction of rotation of their related shafts.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal base plate provided with an integral bearing block having a pair of parallel bores extending therethrough, a shaft journaledA in each of said bores, an oil pan on the underside of said base plate forming an oil chamber between said pan and base plate, the lower end of each of said shafts having a direct thrust bearing on said oil pan, intermeshing gears on said shafts within said chamber, means at the upper end of one shaft for effecting a driving connection with a motor, a driven shaft journaled in said base plate, and a gearing connection between the upper end of the other of the two first-mentioned shafts and said driven shaft.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a base plate including an integral bearing block provided with a pair of vertical bores extending therethrough and individual longitudinal oil feeding grooves for said bores coextensive therewith and terminating at their upper ends in helical grooves, an oil pan secured to said plate beneath said block and forming a closed chamber therewith communicating with said bores, a vertically disposed driven shaft journaled in said base plate, and a motor drive for said shaft including, drive and jack shafts journaled in said bores, respectively, said drive and jack shafts projecting at their upper ends above said block and having lower rounded ends bearing upon the bottom of said pan to provide an anti-friction end thrust bearing for said drive and jack shafts, intermeshing gears on the lower ends of said drive and jack shafts within said pan, and a gear drive between the upper end of said jack shaft and said driven shaft.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising'a horizontal base plate having shaft bearing opening therethrough, a shaft journaled in said bearing, an oil pan on the underside of said base 'plate forming van oil chamber between said pan and base plate, the lower end of said shaft having a direct thrust bearing on said oil pan, and means for connecting said shaft to a source of power and to a driven shaft.

ERWIN WOERNER. 

